CKTS was an English language Canadian radio station located in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

It broadcast on 900 kHz with a power of 10,000 watts as a class B station, using a directional antenna which had a slightly directional pattern during the day and a much tighter pattern at night.

The station's programming was, since 1992, largely a simulcast from news/talk station CJAD in Montreal. The only exception is a church service that aired every Sunday morning for half an hour. This situation was maintained since the station was acquired by Corus Entertainment in January 2005, this despite the fact that Corus also operates an English-language news/talk station in Montreal (CINW) in competition with Standard Broadcasting's CJAD since September 2005.

CKTS went on the air on July 1, 1946; it was originally on 1240 kHz, and was operated by The Telegram Printing & Publishing Co. (owner of the Sherbrooke Telegram-Observer, a local weekly newspaper). The station moved to its current frequency in 1959, and was sold to Telemedia in the late 1960s. It was an affiliate of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) Trans-Canada Network (later CBC Radio) by 1957 (the date of disaffiliation is unknown).

As the English-speaking population declined in the Eastern Townships, the station tried to appeal to francophones, and by the mid-1980s the station had a Top 40 format with minimal spoken word content. Most of the advertising on the station was in French and most listeners were francophones, much to the displeasure of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) [1]. In 1989, the CRTC forced CKTS to use only English; as a result, the station would later (in 1992) strike a deal to rebroadcast most of CJAD's programs.

Effective November 19, 2006, the station was shut down, and its licence was voluntarily revoked as of December 13. This decision, according to Corus, was due to high ongoing maintenance costs that neither they nor Standard are willing to cover.

1946CKTS commenced test transmissions on June 1 and the Telegram Printing & Publishing Co. officially opened the station on July 1. It operated on a frequency of 1240 kHz with a power of 250 watts. Studios were co-located with CHLT at 3 Marquette Street. The transmitter was also co-located with CHLT, on King Street East. CKTS was designed to serve the English population of the Eastern Townships. The “TS” in the call sign: Telegram-Sherbrooke. Some of the owners of CHLT were also involved in the ownership of CHLT.

1962The Trans-Canada and Dominion networks were consolidated into a single service. CKTS remained a CBC affiliate after the merger.

1965Gordon H. Beerworth was President of Telegram Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd. and General Manager of CKTS.

UndatedThe Telegram sold CKTS to Telemedia.

1965Gordon H. Beerworth was President of Telegram Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd. and General Manager of CKTS.

1970 Power Corp. sold a controlling interest in CKTS (Telegram Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd.) and a number of other stations to Philipe de Gaspe Beaubien’s Telemedia (Quebec) Inc. (owned by Telemedia Communications Ltee, in turn owned by Beaudem Ltee). Power would retain through ownership debentures, a large financial interest in the new company for a period of time. Philipe de Gaspe Beaubien would control more than 80% of the votes of the company.

1971On December 31, Telegram Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd. was given approval to change its name to CKTS Radio Sherbrooke Ltee.

1992Telemedia made arrangements with Standard Radio Inc. to rebroadcast the programming of Standard’s CJAD Montreal over CKTS. The station would continue to produce a limited amount of local programming.

1999The corporate name changed from Telemedia Communications Inc. to Telemedia Radio Inc.

2001The corporate name changed from Telemedia Radio Inc. to Télémédia Radio (Québec) inc.

2006On November 19, Corus Radio pulled the plug on CKTS 900. The station had been rebroadcasting Standard Radio's CJAD 800 in Montreal since 1992. Corus stated that CKTS needed major antenna work and Standard was not willing to cover the costs. CKTS was the last English language AM station in Quebec outside of Montreal.

1945It was announced that Sherbrooke would get a second radio station. CKTS would operate on 1240 kHz and was expected to start operations in late January of 1946. The station would be owned and operated by the Sherbrooke Telegram and Printing Co.

1946CKTS, designed to serve the English population of the Eastern Townships, began test transmissions in May. It was now hoping to begin commercial operations on June 1.

CKTS commenced test transmissions on June 1 and the Telegram Printing & Publishing Co. officially opened the station on July 1. It operated on a frequency of 1240 kHz with a power of 250 watts. Studios were co-located with CHLT at 3 Marquette Street. The transmitter was also co-located with CHLT, on King Street East. CKTS was designed to serve the English population of the Eastern Townships. The “TS” in the call sign: Telegram-Sherbrooke. Some of the owners of CHLT were also involved in the ownership of CHLT.

1962The Trans-Canada and Dominion networks were consolidated into a single service. CKTS remained a CBC affiliate after the merger.

1965Gordon H. Beerworth was president of Telegram Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd. and manager, news and farm director of CKTS. Kenneth Fowler was assistant manager, program and production manager. Gordon Breen was chief announcer and sports director. Charlie Hunter was morning man.

UndatedThe Telegram sold CKTS to Telemedia.

1967CHLT-AM-FM-TV/CKTS opened new studios and offices on October 23 putting all four stations under one roof. Known as the RTS Broadcast Centre, located on Bourque Blvd. Bob Butler is promo manager. Three TV studios (80x50, 50x50 and 42x21 feet). Still to be officially opened at a later date. Stations had been in cramped quarters downtown.

1968Philippe De Gaspe Beaubien, director of operations, Expo 67, was named president of Quebec Telemedia Inc., succeeding Claude Frenette, general counsel of Power Corp., the largest shareholder in QTI, which administers CHLT-AM-FM-TV and CKTS. The French stations operate under the name Radio-Television Sherbrooke (1967) Inc. with Jean-Louis Gauthier as president. CKTS is operated by subsidiary company, Telegram Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd. with Lt.-Col. John J. Dunn, president.

Galen Driver was farm show host.

Ad: Now 10,000 watts - English Radio continues to progress in the Eastern Townships of Quebec!

1970 Power Corp. sold a controlling interest in CKTS (Telegram Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd.) and a number of other stations to Philipe de Gaspe Beaubien’s Telemedia (Quebec) Inc. (owned by Telemedia Communications Ltee, in turn owned by Beaudem Ltee). Power would retain through ownership debentures, a large financial interest in the new company for a period of time. Philipe de Gaspe Beaubien would control more than 80% of the votes of the company.

1971On December 31, Telegram Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd. was given approval to change its name to CKTS Radio Sherbrooke Ltee.

Telmed Ltee, CKCV (Quebec) Ltee, CKAC Ltee, CHLT Radio Sherbrooke Ltee, Metro-Media Communications (1977) Ltee and Telemedia Communications Ltee all amalgamated under the name of Telemedia Communications Ltee.,a wholly owned subsidiary of Beaudem Ltee. Telemedia would then become the direct licensee of the six AM and three FM stations it already controls in Quebec.

1981An application by CKTS to modify its 10,000 watt pattern on 900 kHz was denied by the CRTC as technically incompatible with the new station at St-Jerome.

1982Paul Desruisseaux passed away at age 76. He was a lawyer, senator, and former owner of La Tribune, CHLT-AM-TV and CKTS-AM.

1991Quebec's only English-language commercial radio station off the island of Montreal signed off after 45 years of broadcasting. CKTS ceased to exist in mid-October. Following an agreement between owner Telemedia and Standard Broadcasting, the 900 kHz frequency in Sherbrooke was now simulcasting Standard's CJAD 800 from Montreal. Telemedia reportedly lost $2.9 million on CKTS since 1969 - $250,000 in the last year.

1992Telemedia made arrangements with Standard Radio Inc. to rebroadcast the programming of Standard’s CJAD Montreal over CKTS. The station would continue to produce a limited amount of local programming.

1999The corporate name changed from Telemedia Communications Inc. to Telemedia Radio Inc.

2001The corporate name changed from Telemedia Radio Inc. to Télémédia Radio (Québec) inc.

2006On November 19, Corus Radio pulled the plug on CKTS 900. The station had been rebroadcasting Standard Radio's CJAD 800 in Montreal since 1992. Corus stated that CKTS needed major antenna work and Standard was not willing to cover the costs. CKTS was the last English language AM station in Quebec outside of Montreal.